Translation guide
How to express 'faintly' in Japanese, covering weak sensory perception, slight degree, and barely perceptible actions or states.
Describing something perceived only slightly through the senses.
Adverb meaning 'faintly', 'dimly', 'slightly'. Used for weak sensory input like sound, light, smell, or feeling.
遠くでかすかに雷の音が聞こえた。
I could faintly hear thunder in the distance.
The faint scent of flowers lingered in the room.
Adverb meaning 'faintly', 'dimly', often with a poetic or gentle nuance. Common for light, warmth, or subtle sensations.
ほのかに明かりがともっている。
A faint light is shining.
Adverb meaning 'faintly', 'lightly', often for a thin layer or barely visible state. Used for snow, color, or awareness.
山がうっすらと雪化粧していた。
The mountain was faintly dusted with snow.
Expressing that an action or state occurs to a small extent.
Also used for slight actions or states, like a faint smile or vague memory.
彼女はかすかに微笑んだ。
She smiled faintly.
その名前をかすかに覚えている。
I faintly remember that name.
Can be used for vague awareness or slight resemblance.
うっすらと気づいていた。
I was faintly aware of it.
Sometimes used for subtle emotional expressions, but less common than かすかに for actions.
彼はほのかに笑みを浮かべた。
He gave a faint smile.
Describing a very light or pale color, or dim light.
Common for faint coloring, like a blush or pale tint.
彼の頬がうっすらと赤くなった。
His cheeks turned faintly red.
Also possible for color, but うっすら is more natural for visual lightness.
空がかすかにピンク色に染まっていた。
The sky was faintly tinged with pink.
Something can be seen but only dimly or unclearly.
Adverb meaning 'dimly', 'vaguely', 'indistinctly'. Used when something is not clearly visible.
霧の向こうに船がぼんやりと見えた。
A ship was faintly visible through the fog.
Also works for faint visibility, but ぼんやり emphasizes lack of clarity.
遠くにかすかに島が見える。
An island is faintly visible in the distance.
All mean 'faintly', but with different nuances. かすかに is the most general and neutral for weak sensory input. うっすらと implies a thin, light layer or vague awareness, often visual. ほのかに is more poetic and often used for gentle light, warmth, or subtle emotions.
かすかに音がする。
There's a faint sound.
うっすらと雪が積もっている。
Snow has faintly accumulated.
ほのかに温かい。
It's faintly warm.
While 薄い means 'thin' or 'pale', 薄く is not a direct adverb for 'faintly' in sensory contexts. Use かすかに or うっすらと instead. 薄く is used for physical thinness or dilution.
✗ 薄く聞こえる
(unnatural for 'faintly hear')
◯ かすかに聞こえる
faintly hear
彼女はかすかに微笑んだ。
She smiled faintly.
かすかに潮の香りがした。
I could faintly smell the sea.
星がほのかに輝いていた。
The stars were faintly shining.